Interchangeable Footwear Component

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide for an easily interchangeable footwear component, such as an upper portion of an article of footwear. In one embodiment, an article of footwear can comprise a fixed upper portion of an article of footwear, a sole fixedly connected to the fixed upper portion, and an interchangeable upper portion. Both the sole and the interchangeable upper portion can include one or more releasable fasteners, which allow the interchangeable upper portion to be releasably fastened to the article of footwear.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/55,067 filed on Apr. 23, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear and footwear accessories, and,more particularly, to interchangeable footwear components, such asinterchangeable uppers, for example.

BACKGROUND

Fashion, and the desire to be fashionable, is becoming more and moreimportant in today's society. Fashion is also becoming more and morefast-paced—it seems to change all the time, and is even cyclical.Yesterday's fashion often becomes tomorrow's new thing. Although keepingup with the latest trends can be fun, fashion can also be expensive,especially when it changes quickly. One day's styles or colors could bepassé the following week, and the clothes or footwear bought with oneday's “in” colors may never be worn again once those styles or colorsare “out,” despite the clothes or footwear being perfectly functional,wearable, or, in short, almost like new.

Are ever-changing fashions any wonder, however, considering thatpeople's tastes, and needs, also change just as frequently? Forinstance, one day someone's favorite color might be blue, but anotherday that same person's favorite color might be red. One day someonemight need brown shoes to match a brown belt, while another day thatsame person might need black shoes to match a black belt. Or aparticular color seen at a store under certain lighting may not appearthe same at home. Likewise, the available colors of goods purchased overthe Internet, or through a catalog, etc., may not accurately reproduceon a computer screen or on a catalog page.

Even as fashions and tastes change, the quality of footwear, clothes,and other garment-related goods and accessories increases. Thetechnology exists for clothes to last longer—shirts are being made outof expensive, high-tech fabrics, in part, to improve wearability.Likewise, the quality of footwear is increasing. For example, soles canbe constructed out of materials vastly superior to those used in thepast, and as a result can last longer and be more durable.

It therefore becomes clear that in many instances, and for manydifferent reasons, purchasers of footwear, clothes, and other garmentrelated goods and accessories may want change. For example, a purchaserof footwear might want to change the color of the footwear, forinstance, to match his or her clothes, accessories, etc.; to keep upwith fashion; or just because the wearer prefers one color over another.Likewise, a purchaser of footwear might want to change worn outcomponents of the footwear, such as the uppers, for example.Importantly, a purchaser of footwear might just change components of thefootwear to have fun.

Thus, a need exists for a product that allows footwear components to beeasily changed.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment an interchangeable upper portion of anarticle of footwear can comprise one or more releasable fasteners forreleasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to an article offootwear; and one or more alignment means for aligning theinterchangeable upper portion on an article of footwear prior toreleasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to an article offootwear.

According to another embodiment an article of footwear can comprise anupper portion; a sole fixedly connected to the upper portion; and one ormore releasable fasteners for releasably fastening an interchangeableupper portion to the article of footwear.

According to another embodiment, an article of footwear can comprise afixed upper portion of an article of footwear; a sole fixedly connectedto the fixed upper portion; and one or more releasable fastenersreleasably fastening an interchangeable upper portion of an article offootwear to the article of footwear.

According to another embodiment, a method of releasably fastening aninterchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear to a fixed upperportion of an article of footwear can comprise engaging one or morealignment means on the interchangeable upper portion with one or morealignment means on the article of footwear; and releasably fastening theinterchangeable upper portion to the fixed upper portion.

A variety of alternatives will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an article of footwear in accordance withan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an interchangeable upper in accordance withan exemplary embodiment, shown in a flattened state;

FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of the interchangeable upper in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment, shown in a flattened state;

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the article of footwear with theinterchangeable upper attached, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 5A depicts a rear view of the article of footwear in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5B depicts a rear view of the article of footwear with theinterchangeable upper attached, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an article of footwear in accordance withan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of an interchangeable upper in accordance withan exemplary embodiment, shown in a flattened state;

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of an article of footwear in accordance withan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 depicts a bottom view of an interchangeable upper in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 10 depicts a side view of an article of footwear with theinterchangeable upper attached, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 1. Exemplary Embodiments

This application is directed to interchangeable uppers for use withfootwear. Advantageously, a user can easily interchange uppers from anarticle of footwear, such as a shoe (for example, a running shoe,cross-training shoe, hiking shoe, clog, bowling shoe, walking shoe, golfshoe, soccer shoe, or dress shoe), boot skate, sandal, etc. Thisinterchangeable upper can enable a user to replace, cover, uncover,and/or recover the upper or a portion of the upper on a single articleof footwear, so that it can take on various looks, styles, materials,and/or functions, or so that worn out uppers can be replaced.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of an article offootwear 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 1, the article of footwear 100 may include a sole 102 and afixed upper 104 fixedly connected to the sole 102. In one embodiment thefixed upper 104 is a bootie type of inner sock and is configured toreceive and support an interchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 2),thereby forming the article of footwear 100 shown in FIG. 4. Moreover,the fixed upper 104 may be fixedly connected to the sole 102 through anyof a number of arrangements; for example, the fixed upper 104 can bedirectly attached to the sole 102 on the outside or the on the insidesurface of the sole 102, the fixed upper 104 can be indirectly attachedto the sole 102 via another component of the article of footwear 100,etc.

The fixed upper 104 can comprise components of the article of footwear100 that are not included on the interchangeable upper. Thus in oneembodiment, the fixed upper 104 may include eyelets 108 for use incombination with shoelaces for securing the article of footwear 100 to auser's foot. Other and/or additional methods or devices for securing thearticle of footwear 100 to the user's foot are also possible.Additionally, the fixed upper 104 may include a tongue 110 forprotecting the user's foot from the area where the eyelets 108 andshoelaces, for instance, secure the article of footwear 100 to theuser's foot. The sole 102 shown in FIG. 1 can extend from the bottom ofthe article of footwear 100 toward the top of the article of footwear100 in the heel area; however, other sole 102 configurations are alsopossible.

The article of footwear 100 can also include a first and second footwearreleasable fasteners 112 and 116 (shown in FIG. 5A) for securing aninterchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 2) to each side of the articleof footwear 100. In one embodiment, the first and second footwearreleasable fasteners 112 and 116 are zippers. Alternatively, fewer (suchas only one releasable fastener), additional, and/or other types ofreleasable fasteners, such as snaps or hook and loop fasteners, such asVelcro™ fasteners, can be used. As shown in FIG. 1, the first and secondfootwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116 can each start at the toe ofthe article of footwear 100 and extend along the length of eachrespective side toward the heel of the article of footwear 100.Additionally, the first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and116 may extend from the bottom surface of the article of footwear 100 inan upward direction as they near the heel. In one embodiment, thisconfiguration might allow for easier manufacturing and assembly, andmight better secure an interchangeable upper 200 to the article offootwear 100.

The first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116 shown inFIGS. 1 and 5A are attached to the sole 102 of the article of footwear100 near the interface between the fixed upper 104 and the sole 102.However, the first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116can also be attached to the fixed upper 104, both the sole 102 and thefixed upper 104, and/or a combination thereof at various points alongthe length of the article of footwear 100. Additionally, each of thefirst and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116 may beattached to the article of footwear 100 at different points and indifferent configurations.

As shown in FIG. 1, a footwear alignment means 114 might be located nearthe toe of the article of footwear 100, and can be used to align and/orhelp secure the interchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 2) to thearticle of footwear 100. For example, the footwear alignment means 114might align the interchangeable upper 200 with the article of footwear100 to facilitate the first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112and 116 engaging the interchangeable upper 200.

In one embodiment, the footwear alignment means 114 might comprise ahook or projection on the article of footwear 100 that can engage theinterchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 2), for example, at an openingor aperture on the interchangeable upper 200. Alternatively, additionaland/or other types of footwear alignment means 114, such as a snap orhook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro™ fasteners, for example, couldbe used. The footwear alignment means 114 could be attached to thearticle of footwear 100 at the fixed upper 104, the sole 102, or acombination of the fixed upper 104 and the sole 102. The footwearalignment means 114 could be used only in areas where theinterchangeable upper is not fastened to the article of footwear 100, aswell as in areas that are fastened to the article of footwear 100 viathe first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116, forinstance.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an interchangeable upper 200, with the heelportion of the upper shown on the left and the toe portion of the uppershown on the right. In one embodiment, the interchangeable upper 200 cancover at least a portion of the article of footwear 100. In otherembodiments, the interchangeable upper 200 can comprise at least aportion of an upper of an article of footwear. That is, theinterchangeable upper 200 can comprise the upper or a portion of theupper itself, and not just a cover for the upper. Other examples arepossible as well.

The interchangeable upper 200 of FIG. 2 is shown in a flattened state.The interchangeable upper 200 may be arranged to cover at least aportion of the fixed upper 104 and/or sole 102, and can comprise a firstand second upper releasable fasteners 204 and 206 for releasablyfastening the interchangeable upper 200 to the article of footwear 100.In one embodiment, the first and second upper releasable fasteners 204and 206 can be zippers, and can zip onto and off of the correspondingfirst and second footwear releasable fasteners 112 and 116, to securethe interchangeable upper 200 to and remove the interchangeable upper200 from the article of footwear 100.

The interchangeable upper 200 can be sized and shaped to cover specificportions of the article of footwear 100. A particular interchangeableupper 200 could, for instance, be sized and shaped to cover the entirefront and sides of an article of footwear 100 of a particular size, orrange of sizes. Additionally, the interchangeable upper 200 could befabricated from many different types of materials, including cloth,neoprene, nylon, leather, or rubber. Other types of materials are alsopossible. In an alternative embodiment the interchangeable upper 200 mayalso be reversible to allow the user to use both sides of a singleinterchangeable upper 200.

The interchangeable upper 200 may also include an opening 208 to providea user with access to the shoelaces, or other footwear securing devices,without having to detach the interchangeable upper 200 from the articleof footwear 100. The opening may be closeable using an additionalfastener 210, such as a zipper, as shown in FIG. 2. Other types offasteners, such as snaps or hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro™fasteners, are possible as well. The opening 210 is shown in a closedposition in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the interchangeable upper 200 of FIG. 2, withthe heel portion of the upper shown on the left and the toe portion ofthe upper shown on the right. As shown in FIG. 3, the interchangeableupper 200 can also include an upper alignment means 212, which might bean aperture or indentation for aligning and/or securing theinterchangeable upper 200 to the article of footwear 100. The upperalignment means 212 may be configured to engage the footwear alignmentmeans 114 of the article of footwear 100 to align and/or help secure theinterchangeable upper 200 with the article of footwear 100. Otheralignment devices and methods are possible as well.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the article of footwear 100, showing theinterchangeable upper 200 attached to the article of footwear 100. Asshown in FIG. 4, the interchangeable upper 200 is sized and shaped insuch a way as to cover at least a portion of the article of footwear100. Additionally, the first footwear releasable fastener 112 is shownfastened to the first upper releasable fastener 204, thereby securingthe interchangeable upper 200 to the article of footwear 100. Asdepicted in the configuration of FIG. 4, the footwear alignment means114 (not shown) can also engage the upper alignment means 212 (notshown), to align and/or further secure the interchangeable upper 200 tothe article of footwear 100.

FIG. 5A is a rear view of the article of footwear 100 of FIG. 1. Asshown in FIG. 5A, the first and second footwear releasable fasteners 112and 116 can curve toward an upward direction as they near the back ofthe article of footwear 100. FIG. 5B is a rear view of the article offootwear 100 of FIG. 4, showing the interchangeable upper 200 attachedto the article of footwear 100.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the article of footwear100. Like the article of footwear 100 shown in FIG. 1, the article offootwear 100 illustrated in FIG. 6 may include a sole 102 and a fixedupper 104 fixedly attached to the sole 102. The embodiment shown in FIG.6, however, does not include eyelets in the fixed upper 104 forshoelaces.

In one embodiment, the article of footwear 100 can be slipped onto andoff a user's foot without manipulating a fastening device. In otherembodiments, a fixed upper 104 without eyelets might have a zipper alonga side of the fixed upper 104 or a drawstring around the opening of thefixed upper 104 to secure the article of footwear 100 to a foot, or tofacilitate the insertion or removal of a foot into or from the articleof footwear. Other examples are possible as well. In one embodiment, thefixed upper 104 might be fabricated from an elastic material to aid insecuring the footwear 100 to a user's foot by elastically engaging thefoot. Alternatively, an elastic material might be attached to the fixedupper 104 near the opening in the upper for the user's foot to aid insecuring the footwear 100 to the user's foot. Other and/or additionalmethods or devices for securing the article of footwear 100 to theuser's foot, or for facilitating the insertion or removal of a foot intoor from the article of footwear 100, are also possible.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the interchangeableupper 200. As depicted in FIG. 7, the interchangeable upper 200 mightnot include an opening to provide a user with access to the shoelaces,or other footwear securing devices. The interchangeable upper depictedin FIG. 7 can engage the article of footwear 100 depicted in FIG. 6using methods and devices described herein, for example, including byuse of the alignment means 114 (not shown).

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 depict another particular example of theaforementioned embodiments. FIG. 8 depicts an article of footwear 100including a sole 102 fixedly connected to a fixed upper 104. Asdiscussed above, the fixed upper 104 can be a bootie type of inner sock,rigid enough to hold the sole 102 and fixed upper 104 on a wearer'sfoot. The fixed upper can also have some elasticity and can allow a userto slip his or her foot into the article of footwear through the fixedupper 104, which can make it easier to for a user to attach or unattachan interchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 9) from the article offootwear 100. The fixed upper can also include a breathable material250, such as mesh. The mesh or other breathable material can allow airflow to a user's foot, allowing the foot to avoid overheating due tomultiple layers of uppers (such as the fixed upper 104 and aninterchangeable upper (shown in FIG. 9); for example).

FIG. 8 also depicts multiple alignment means 114 on the exterior of thefixed upper 104. In this particular example, the alignment means 114 arein four locations: one on each side of the front of the article offootwear 100 (although only one is visible in this view), near awearer's toes, and one on each side of the back of the article offootwear 100, near a wearer's heel. In this embodiment, the alignmentmeans 114 are pieces of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro™fasteners, wherein the four alignment means 114 on the fixed upper 104correspond to four alignment means on the inside surface of theinterchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG. 9). Other configurations andexamples are of course possible.

FIG. 8 also depicts a releasable fastener 112 around the sole 102. Inthis particular example, the releasable fastener 112 is a zipper. Asshown in FIG. 8, the sole 102 of the article of footwear 100 can includeone edge of the zipper, and the interchangeable upper 200 (shown in FIG.9) can include the other edge of the zipper. The zipper can extend fromone side of the heel of the article of footwear 100 around the toeportion to the other side of the heel. Other configurations and examplesof releasable fasteners are possible as well.

FIG. 9 depicts a bottom view of an interchangeable upper 200. Theinterchangeable upper 200 comprises multiple alignment means 212, whichcan correspond to the alignment means 114 of the fixed upper 104. Theinterchangeable upper 200 also comprises a releasable fastener 204,which in this particular example is a zipper. As shown in FIG. 9, theoutside edge of the interchangeable upper 200 can include one edge ofthe zipper, and the sole 102 (shown in FIG. 8) can include the otheredge of the zipper. As also depicted in FIG. 9, the interchangeableupper 200 can also include a breathable material 252, such as mesh. Thebreathable material 252 of the interchangeable upper 200 can correspondwith the breathable material 250 of the fixed upper 104 and, asdiscussed above, can allow airflow to the wearer's foot.

As shown in the example of FIG. 9, the interchangeable upper 200 is openat the heel portion. A user can therefore wrap the interchangeable upper200 around the fixed upper 104 (as opposed to the user having to sliphis or her foot into the interchangeable upper 200 like a shoe). Thefour alignment means 212 on the interchangeable upper 200 can then bealigned with the four corresponding alignment means 114 on the fixedupper 104, and the interchangeable upper 200 can then be firmly held inthe proper location for fastening to the article of footwear 100. Tofasten the interchangeable upper 200 to the article of footwear 100, auser can engage the zipper on one side of the heel and zip around thecircumference of the sole 102 to the other side of the heel. Thealignment means 114 and 212 can facilitate this zipping by, forinstance, holding the interchangeable upper 200 in place, possiblyfreeing up one of the user's hands to help zip the zipper, and byremoving any guesswork involved in identifying the proper placement ofthe interchangeable upper 200 in relation to the fixed upper 104.

FIG. 10 depicts the interchangeable upper 200 fastened to the article offootwear 100. Once the interchangeable upper 200 is fastened to thearticle of footwear 100, a user can take the article of footwear 100 offor put it on as with any article of footwear. If the article of footwear100 has shoe laces, as in the example of FIG. 10, the user can tie anduntie the shoe laces as with any article of footwear with laces. Toremove the interchangeable upper 200 from the article of footwear 100, auser can simply release the releasable fastener 112 and 204 (in thisexample, the user can unzip the zipper), disengage the alignment means114 and 212, and pull the interchangeable upper 200 away from the sole102 and the fixed upper 104 of the article of footwear 100. The user canthen attach another interchangeable upper 200 to the article of footwear100.

It should be understood, however, that all the arrangements describedherein are set forth for purposes of example only. As such, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and otherelements (e.g., components of the article of footwear, etc.) can be usedinstead, particular components shown in one embodiment can be used withthe components and elements shown in other embodiments, and someelements may be omitted altogether. Further, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that although the concepts herein are expressed inrelation to an article of footwear or components of an article offootwear, these concepts can also be applied to other products,including articles of clothing, clothing accessories, etc.

2. Conclusion

Several exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, thatchanges and modifications may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the true scope and spirit of the present invention, whichis defined by the claims.

1. An interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwearcomprising: one or more releasable fasteners for releasably fasteningthe interchangeable upper portion to an article of footwear; and one ormore alignment means for aligning the interchangeable upper portion onan article of footwear prior to releasably fastening the interchangeableupper portion to an article of footwear.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled) 4.(canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. The interchangeable upper portion of claim1, wherein the one or more alignment means are aligning theinterchangeable upper portion on an article of footwear.
 7. Theinterchangeable upper portion of claim 1, wherein the interchangeableupper portion is releasably fastened to an article of footwear.
 8. Theinterchangeable upper portion of claim 7, wherein the article offootwear comprises: a fixed upper portion; a sole fixedly connected tothe fixed upper portion; and one or more releasable fasteners forengaging the one or more releasable fasteners on the interchangeableupper portion and for releasably fastening the interchangeable upperportion to the article of footwear.
 9. The interchangeable upper portionof claim 8, wherein the fixed upper portion further comprises one ormore alignment means for receiving the one or more alignment means ofthe interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear.
 10. Theinterchangeable upper portion of claim 9, wherein the one or morealignment means of the interchangeable upper portion are engaging theone or more alignment means from the interchangeable upper portion. 11.The interchangeable upper portion of claim 8, wherein theinterchangeable upper portion substantially covers the fixed upperportion.
 12. An article of footwear comprising: an upper portion; a solefixedly connected to the upper portion; and one or more releasablefasteners for releasably fastening an interchangeable upper portion tothe article of footwear.
 13. The article of footwear of claim 12,further comprising one or more alignment means for receivingcorresponding alignment means from an interchangeable upper portion ofan article of footwear and aligning the interchangeable upper portionwith the article of footwear prior to releasably fastening theinterchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear.
 14. Theinterchangeable upper portion of claim 13, wherein the one or morealignment means include hood and loop fasteners.
 15. The article offootwear of claim 12, further comprising an interchangeable upperportion of an article of footwear, the interchangeable upper portioncomprising: one or more releasable fasteners for releasably fasteningthe interchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear.
 16. Thearticle of footwear of claim 15, wherein the interchangeable upperportion further comprises one or more alignment means for aligning theinterchangeable upper on the article of footwear prior to releasablyfastening the interchangeable upper to an article of footwear. 17.(canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. The article of footwear of claim 15,wherein the one or more alignment means of the interchangeable upperportion are engaging the one or more alignment means from theinterchangeable upper portion.
 20. The article of footwear of claim 14,wherein the interchangeable upper portion is releasably fastened to thearticle of footwear.
 21. The article of footwear of claim 12, furthercomprising an interchangeable upper portion releasably fastened to thearticle of footwear.
 22. The article of footwear of claim 21, whereinthe interchangeable upper portion substantially covers the fixed upperportion.
 23. An article of footwear comprising: a fixed upper portion ofan article of footwear; a sole fixedly connected to the fixed upperportion; and one or more releasable fasteners releasably fastening aninterchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear to the articleof footwear.
 24. The article of footwear of claim 23, wherein the fixedupper portion comprises one or more alignment means, and wherein theinterchangeable upper portion further comprises one or more alignmentmeans for receiving the one or more alignment means of the fixed upperportion.
 25. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the one ormore alignment means of the fixed upper portion are engaging the one ormore alignment means from the interchangeable upper portion.
 26. Thearticle of footwear of claim 23, wherein the interchangeable upperportion substantially covers the fixed upper portion.
 27. (canceled)